Tag Archives: baby bjorn

Healthy Chocolate Protein Dip Recipe

How about a healthy chocolate dessert dip recipe that’s easy to make and perfect to enjoy this upcoming weekend? Loaded with protein and creamy goodness, it’s good just eating right from a spoon!

Healthy Chocolate Protein Dip

I’ll spare you the long talk and get right to it. Our time is precious, so why go on about…..never mind, I’ll do that again soon. 🙂

Topped with Greek yogurt and cocoa nibs, chocolate
Topped with Greek yogurt and cocoa nibs

Chocolate Protein Dip

Ingredients:

1 can of chickpeas or white beans, drained and rinsed

2 medium ripe bananas (the more spots the better to me!)*See note below if you don’t have bananas

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp baking soda

rounded1/8 tsp salt

3 packets of stevia or about 2 tsp; it takes a while get the right amount since so many stevia products are different, so just adjust to taste. If you’re not into stevia, you can use 2/3 cup of brown sugar or honey, but this will detract a little of the “healthy” part.

2 Tbsp raw cacao powder

1/4 cup rolled oats, ground flax seeds, or chia seeds (you can omit this, it just helps to make it really thick)

*If you don’t have or like bananas, try using 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, pumpkin puree, or Greek yogurt as a substitute. I have tried all of these and still like the outcome. There’s no wrong way, just what you have on hand.

Directions:

Add everything in a blender or food processor and blend until you have a smooth, creamy consistency.

The dip will firm up a little more if you let it cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Or make a double batch so you can eat one right away like I do!

This is perfect to treat the whole family, and a wonderful way to get any picky eaters to think they’re getting away with something. Have it alone or smear it on a banana, you’ll be happy either way!

 

Have you ever made a sweet dip that’s healthy and delicious?

What do you think about using chickpeas as the main ingredient?

International Babywearing Week: Reap the Benefits

This week is International Babywearing Week, and our City Dads Group has teamed with Baby Bjorn to celebrate all across the U.S. today.

Here in Texas, our Dallas Dads Group will meet at Klyde Warren Park to wear their babies as they proudly get active outdoors. Any longtime reader should know I’m a huge advocate of babywearing and have shared my feelings as to why I wear my baby and the numerous benefits.

Since it happens to be Thursday, I’ll take this Throwback opportunity to share an old pic of me wearing Avery and a few of my past posts.

How to "wear" in style in Texas.

Ha ha, okay, I’ll show one where you can actually see Avery and not my flying saucer covered head.

Bundled up for a cold walk
Bundled up for a cold walk

This is from my babywearing progression post I did last October. Yeah, she’s changed a little… Here she is just last month while helping me mow with our EGO.

For a little babywearing motivation, check out these great sites.

Don’t just take part for the 7 days, you can and should wear your kids year round to reap the numerous bonding and health benefits both you and the kiddos receive. Speaking of health, you can even turn babywearing into exercise. Here’s a video I put together with Avery a long time ago….

I even turned mowing the lawn into a babywearing sprinting workout with her! The possibilities are endless!

Again, celebrate International Babywearing Week this week and ALL YEAR….and the next to keep your kiddos literally and figuratively close to you.

Make sure to follow these hashtags and give a little retweet/like love if you can:

#IBW2015

#citydads

Do you plan on celebrating by wearing your baby?

Do you already wear your baby or are you interested in starting?

 

She’s Already Changed So Much: Babywearing Progression Pictures

With it being International Babywearing Week and all, I decided to take a look back at my babywearing journey thus far. Going Mom and I proudly started wearing Avery just weeks after she was born and haven’t looked back sense. Well, besides figuring out that our first carrier, the Baby Bjorn, was not an ideal option for parent or baby.

Luckily, I had the opportunity to try carriers from Onya Baby and Ergo Baby that they sent to me for review. You can read my review for the Onya Baby Outback here and the Ergo Baby Ventus here.

I still use both carriers with Onya being my go-to choice. I keep the Ergo on the car to use when we are out and about. I’ve mentioned many times on the benefits of wearing your baby, and would urge anyone to  wear their baby as much as possible.

What started as a tiny, squishy baby pressed against me in a carrier, has transformed (and still going!) into a lively, albeit heavier, baby that I still wear every day for our afternoon walk. I know the time will come when she becomes too old/heavy to be worn, but that’s still a way’s away.

In celebration of International Babywearing Week, I wanted to post some of my favorite babywearing pictures with Avery. Hope this motivates you to get outside and wear your baby with loving pride!

First day as a stay-at-home dad. My new briefcase is always just hanging around....
First day as a stay-at-home dad. My new briefcase is always just hanging around….
Bundled up for a cold walk
Bundled up for a cold walk
Okay, next
Okay, next
Gahhh! I'm wearing her all wrong!!
Gahhh! I’m wearing her all wrong!!
Mommy-daughter love
Mommy-daughter love
Daddy kisses in the Ergo
Daddy kisses in the Ergo
I can see!!
I can see!!
Color-matching and mowing....win!!
Color-matching and mowing….win!!
20140330_172926
Family walk with Avery taking a nap.
Elevation training mask + babywearing=not impressed
Elevation training mask + babywearing = not impressed
Good to know my baby has my back!
Good to know my baby has my back!
Petting the neighborhood ass.
Petting the neighborhood ass.
How to "wear" in style in Texas.
How to “wear” in style in Texas.
Is it really just a "selfie" when you have your baby too?
Is it really just a “selfie” when you have your baby too?
Great view.
Great view.
Splash pad in Fort Worth  with the family for my birthday!
Splash pad in Fort Worth with the family for my birthday!
Will someone please stop him from mowing?!
Will someone please stop him from mowing?!

I tried to keep these somewhat in order. Hope you enjoyed the pics and are ready to go wear your baby if aren’t already.

Have you been celebrating Babywearing Week?

Do you do it ever day regardless?